Protect a child this Christmas

This Christmas, give a child in Uganda the gift of safety.

How are you feeling as we count down to Christmas? Stressed? Exhausted? Wondering where the year’s gone (again!)? How might the children you know answer that question? Excited? Happy? Hopeful? The sad reality is that for some children in northern Uganda, the answer to that question – and the prospect of more time at home with their family – would be ‘scared’.

In northern Uganda, where years of civil war and poverty have already combined to make life challenging, Covid-19 has pushed many families to breaking point. With parents out of work and schools closed, financial and emotional strain has hit hard – and, in many households, it’s the children that bear the brunt. 13-year-old Aber* was excelling at school and showing huge potential until lockdown threatened to take all of that away. With schools closed, and Aber spending more time at home, her family saw an opportunity to make some much-needed money.

“They were planning to sell Aber to a man, to get her married off,” explains Valerie, a child protection officer supported by BMS World Mission.

“The headteacher reached out to us and we went all the way to [Aber’s] home. I went with the lawyer for [BMS’ partner, the Ugandan Christian Lawyers Fraternity (UCLF)],” recalls Valerie. “The lawyer was very firm… and the headteacher even offered to let the girl study without paying school fees. Aber went back to school and is doing really well.”

They were planning to sell Aber to a man, to get her married off

Limited protection

But sadly, Valerie and her team can’t prevent every case of abuse from happening.

When Laker* was 12 years old, she was sexually abused by her uncle. It wasn’t until UCLF were contacted, weeks later, that Laker received the physical and emotional help she needed.

As Laker could not stay with her family, UCLF secured alternative accommodation for her and her younger brother, who had also suffered abuse. Valerie continues to support the children and visits them regularly. “They’re such beautiful children,” she says. “They’re doing really well and smiling from ear to ear.”

An exciting future

Both UCLF and the speech and language clinic are BMS partner organisations supported by BMS workers Linda and Lois. Excitingly, Linda and Lois are in the process of fully handing over the projects to Valerie, Isaac and other Ugandan staff. Thank God that this work will be continued by local people, funded with generous donations from BMS supporters. Pray for a smooth handover and for continued wisdom for Valerie and Isaac as they spearhead the projects.

It’s hard to believe, but these children were the lucky ones. They had people looking out for them who knew about UCLF, and who took action on their behalf.

“It’s very hard to deal with sexual abuse in this community,” explains Valerie. “If it’s fathers who are abusing… then the family conceal the abuse because they are afraid there will be no-one to take care of them.” But Valerie and others at UCLF are working hard to encourage people to report abuse – wherever it comes from.

Getting the word out

Radio is a popular form of communication in Uganda and UCLF have been quick to take advantage of this medium during lockdown. “Twice a month we’ve had radio trainings,” explains Valerie. “We’ve trained parents on how to take care of children, especially at such a time as this, where the pandemic has had their children stay at home for so long.”

Another project making use of radio broadcasts to raise awareness is the recently opened speech and language clinic in Gulu, the largest city in northern Uganda.

The clinic is one of the few in the country. Historically, issues with children’s development, including speech and language, have not had much time in the spotlight. “There are very few schools that will accept and support children with disabilities,” explains Isaac, a BMS-supported speech and language therapist at the clinic.

One of Isaac’s patients is two-and-a-half-yearold Ephrahim who has been attending the clinic for the past 12 months. “If you can’t speak, they will not think that you are important,” explains Ephrahim’s mother, Grace. “If you take them to hospital, they say they cannot do anything… but if you’re coming here you are having hope.”

If you can’t speak, they will not think that you are important

Could you give to help support children at risk in northern Uganda?

£30 can help Valerie to protect children like Aber and Laker* from forced marriages and abuse

£70 can help set up a speech and language practice in northern Uganda, offering vital therapy through people like Isaac, for vulnerable children and their families

£300 can help Valerie to give safeguarding training to teachers, local councillors and families so that abuse of more young children is prevented before it can even happen

Go to www.bmsworldmission. org/protectachild to give today.

Ephrahim is now talking more, and his mum is looking forward to being able to enrol him at school.

Jeremiah, who has cerebral palsy, was referred to Isaac at two years old. At the time he wasn’t able to speak, walk, crawl or sit up by himself.

“Mr Isaac helped me a lot…” explains Lucy, Jeremiah’s mum. “Within five months [Jeremiah] was able to not only sit up but also to crawl. He is now walking! Now the problem is speech. We are now focusing on how he can speak well.”

Crucially, now that Jeremiah can move around and do more for himself, Lucy can go back to work, meaning vital income for the family.

Changing perceptions

As well as helping children practically, a lot of Isaac and Valerie’s work is about changing perceptions.

For Valerie, this means working with both schools and parents. “There’s a lot of physical abuse where children are caned and there are beatings,” says Valerie. “My role is to… train the caregivers, the parents, the grandparents and the teachers about alternative means of disciplining children instead of harming them.” Similarly for Isaac, his work often involves protecting as well as providing support for children. One mother that Isaac works with had to flee the family home with her daughter who has Down Syndrome as the child’s father was threatening to drown her.

Yet, for every difficult story and harmful attitude, there are people who are passionate about improving life for children in the country. “These children, we look at them as not important,” explains Jeremiah’s mum Lucy, “but they are very important.”

As societies, organisations and families rebuild after Covid-19, let’s pray that more and more children will be able to look forward to Christmas, and beyond that, a safe and promising future. *Names changed